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National News
International News
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Greater Manchester News

NHS hospital errors kept from patients - The Observer 02/07/06

Hundreds of thousands of NHS hospital patients are not being told about potentially serious mistakes made during their treatment, and the government's flagship 'patient safety' scheme is making only halting progress in tackling the problem, an influential group of MPs will warn this week.

Should smokers and drinkers pay for healthcare? - The Observer 02/07/06

Smokers and drinkers should not get heart bypasses and liver transplants on the NHS, according to four out of 10 doctors

Mind power allows disabled to take a virtual stroll - The Observer 02/07/06

A new 'virtual helmet' which harnesses the power of brain waves is allowing severely disabled people to feel as if they can walk and move again, opening up the prospect of using the mind to help them control wheelchairs, computers and even false limbs.

Cancer drug firm's PR trip sparks a row - The Observer 02/07/06

MPs and charity officials defend paid-for visit to see 'gold standard' treatment at French hospital

Stressed staff will be targeted for therapy - The Observer 02/07/06

Burnt-out employees who sign off work through stress will be targeted for therapy to get them back to their job, under new plans to shake up incapacity benefit being unveiled this week.

Dilemma: Should I stop washing my hair? - The Observer 02/07/06

With all the chemicals and palm oil in shampoo, it's no wonder some people are going without, says Lucy Siegle

Call to halt exploitation of illegal workers - The Observer 02/07/06

The government must overhaul the immigration system to crack down on illegal working, which exploits the poor and allows British businesses to be undercut by cheap labour, former Home Office minister John Denham will warn this week.

How can I cure my son's ringworm? - The Observer 02/07/06

Her six-year-old has had the fungal infection ringworm since he was three, and despite treatment it keeps coming back. Could diet have an impact? And would herbal remedies help?

Pot of gold hiding in the public sector - The Observer 02/07/06

Tribal Group is making millions by bidding for contracts to run projects in areas such as education and healthcare. Oliver Morgan investigates

Are the real pros being managed out of existence? - The Observer 02/07/06

Professionalism is in crisis. 'Professionals have never been more important, nor under more pressure,' according to John Craig in a new collection of essays from Demos. The evidence, although anecdotal, is everywhere. One in five schools has no head; in any one year, 40 per cent of those in post will consult a doctor for stress. There are reportedly more qualified teachers outside the profession than in it. Doctors too are under fire. In her weekly FT column, GP Margaret McCartney worries that a new contract and changing conditions leave her feeling 'less like I think a doctor should ... Have we become less dedicated and by extension less professional?' The Work Foundation finds that fewer than half of health service workers think senior managers know where their organisations are going. Police, university lecturers, social workers - all report low morale and insecurity, and have trouble recruiting as a result.

Your Letters - The Observer 02/07/06

The recent National Audit Office report confirms that the national programme for IT in the NHS is needed to improve patient care and highlights the risks associated with the largely paper-based existing hospital systems ('Fears over faults in NHS patients records system', News, last week).

Exorbitant and wasteful - The Guardian 01/07/06

Government plans to accelerate the privatisation of the NHS make no sense

Ministers in rush to allay fears over NHS plans - The Times 01/07/06

Ministers 'are trying to privatise NHS by stealth' - The Telegraph 01/07/06

Companies 'to control NHS funds' - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Alcohol deaths soaring, new figures show - The Guardian 01/07/06

A sharp increase in the number of people drinking themselves to death in England was revealed in official figures yesterday. The government's Information Centre for Health and Social Care said deaths from alcoholic liver disease rose by 37% in the five years to 2004, with 4,000 people dying.

Alcohol-related illnesses reach a record high - The Independent 01/07/02

Alarm over rise in alcohol abuse - The Telegraph 01/07/06

Alcohol-related liver disease cases double in ten years - Daily Mail 30/06/06

Record levels of alcohol illness - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Alcohol-induced illnesses soar in England - Reuters 30/06/06

Alcohol-related Liver Disease Numbers Double In Ten Years, UK - Medical News Today 30/06/06

'I didn't know what it was like to be an individual' - The Guardian 01/07/06

Violet and Rose are identical twins. They have only fallen out once in their long lives - and that was when Violet became a Jehovah's Witness. On the eve of their 100th birthday, Joanna Moorhead asks them, and others, what it's like when you're one of a pair

Cadbury's bug may be in 30 more products - The Guardian 01/07/06

Food watchdog testing all sweets containing contaminated ingredient

Poisoned patients and mystery samples - how food detectives traced Cadbury's bug - The Guardian 01/07/06

31 infected by salmonella strain - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Prison failure - The Guardian 01/07/06

The tragedy of Zahid Mubarek's death (Report, June 30) is symptomatic of the continuing malaise in the criminal justice system's approach to mental health. Mental healthcare in prisons is completely inadequate. At least seven in 10 prisoners have mental health problems. Despite the government's commitment to bring healthcare standards inside prisons in line with those outside, prisoners are still routinely failed in this area.

Death in Feltham - The Guardian 01/07/06

Cover yourself in the sun - The Guardian 01/07/06

How do you get the new European card, and the cheapest policy? Jill Papworth reports

Ann Robinson: I am surviving my daughter Zoe's death. Just - The Guardian 01/07/06

Three months ago, my eldest daughter, Zoe, died. She had developed leukaemia at 13 and battled on through two years of treatment - chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. She didn't know she was going to die; in fact, she thought she was cured. But nine months after her transplant, she developed a lung infection and had to be sedated so she could be helped to breathe on a ventilator. She never regained consciousness.

Balanced?: Jo Brand - The Guardian 01/07/06

Do you take any vitamins or supplements? No, but I have been known to glance at some vegetables and fruit in such a way that they might have believed I was going to eat them in the future.

Sam Murphy: Floor play - The Guardian 01/07/06

From the very first moment we started Nia, we were challenged to find a way to describe it,' say Debbie and Carlos Rosas, the US founders of this hybrid workout. If they're still stuck for a description after more than 20 years, I haven't got much hope after a single hour-long class - but what I'd say Nia boils down to is rediscovering the joy of movement.

Seven types of massage - The Guardian 01/07/06

Think lolling on the massage table is just about relaxation? Think again, says Jacqui Ripley. There's a treatment out there to cure every type of ailment

Official: dads not needed for IVF babies - The Independent 02/07/06

Fertility clinics are to be told to provide IVF treatment to all women, even when they do not have a male partner, under radical reforms backed by MPs.

Chlamydia: The secret epidemic - The Independent 02/07/06

No one wants to talk about it, but a dramatic rise in cases of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia - up by 250 per cent in the past decade - could be making a generation of young women infertile

Beware the smoothie: Full of fruit - but they may be bad for you - The Independent 02/07/06

They are one of the food industry's biggest sellers and consumers see them as a healthy option. They should think again. Severin Carrell reports

Cadbury salmonella bug may have affected up to 30 brands - The Independent 02/07/06

The salmonella food poisoning bug found in Cadbury chocolate may have contaminated up to 30 different brands, food safety officials have warned.

Jumpers risk life and limb for latest craze: Tombstoning - The Independent 01/07/06

Even its advocates admit you need to be brave, bordering on psychotic to attempt it. Safety experts claim it's like jumping off a skyscraper onto a wet flannel. Despite - or probably because of -the dangers, tombstoning is becoming one of Britain's fastest growing extreme sports. The craze for jumping off cliffs into the sea has inspired websites and an expanding band of daredevil followers who travel the country to try out the best sites.

Ministers to raise the age limit to buy cigarettes to 18 - The Independent 01/07/06

Health ministers are to ban the sale of tobacco to 16- and 17-year-olds from next year, changing a law that was put in place 70 years ago.

Accenture may drop iSoft from NHS work - The Independent 01/07/06

The management of the troubled UK software developer iSoft came under further pressure yesterday after Accenture, a key contractor of its software for the £12bn upgrade to the National Health Service's IT infrastructure, suggested it might be prepared to use another supplier on the project.

Britons live longer but we're still the unhealthiest nation in Europe - The Sunday Times 02/07/06

PEOPLE in Britain spend more years suffering ill health than most other Europeans, according to research by the European Union.

Oldest mother, 62, prepares for caesarean birth - The Sunday Times 02/07/06

BRITAIN’s oldest pregnant woman, 62-year-old Patricia Rashbrook, is expected to give birth to her baby, believed to be a son, within the next 10 days.

Focus: Is a pill really the answer to the fat epidemic or could it make things worse? - The Sunday Times 02/07/06

Jo Welch is like millions of modern English women. “I’m overweight because I like my food too much,” she says cheerfully.

Superbug kills 5 - The Times 01/07/06

A superbug has killed five people at a Kent hospital and contributed to the deaths of 14 others in the past three months. Maidstone Hospital said that 130 patients had been infected with Clostridium difficile, right, about double the normal rate.

Diarrhoea bug kills five patients - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Not just anybody: Don't fence me in . . . - The Times 01/07/06

Celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin, 42, cultivates his inner caveman and shares some horse sense

Easy rider: the right way to saddle up and roll out - The Times 01/07/06

As more of us take to two wheels, Anna Shepard gets expert advice on maximising health benefits; while a fellow Times writer brushes up on her road skills with advanced training for urban bikers

Bring some colour to your cheeks - The Times 01/07/06

There is something blissful about tucking into a bowl of fresh summer berries, especially our sweet, soft, heavenly British-grown raspberries and strawberries.

What type of slimmer are you? - The Times 01/07/06

From busy mums to businessmen, finding a diet for the kind of person you are can be difficult. Juliette Kellow picks out the right one for you

Is it true that ... drinking too much alcohol causes gout? - Newspaper Edition - Times Online

It may be a contributory factor but it’s probably not the alcohol itself that’s the real problem. Gout is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals in joints; this results in severe inflammation, leading to a joint that is characteristically red, hot and very painful.

Eco-worrier: greener transport - The Times 01/07/06

When you leave a newspaper on a train, will it be recycled?

Bad habit is a stretch too far - The Times 01/07/06

My eight-year-old daughter has a habit of constantly stretching her jaw. It started a few months ago when she had dry lips and she found that opening her mouth wide helped to relieve the discomfort. I’m worried that she’ll be made fun of at school. Is it best to tackle this problem or to ignore it and hope that it will go away?

A case of first night nerves - The Times 01/07/06

I'm a rich, OK-looking, 40-ish alpha male, yet I'm lonely. Every time I'm in bed with a woman I feel sick with nerves and can't get it up. Please help

I really want a baby, too - The Times 01/07/06

The close, loving relationship between two sisters is under threat. When they were teenagers they talked endlessly about what kind of men they would marry, how many children they would have and what names they would give them. Now they are grown-up, both are married and the younger sister has just announced that she is pregnant.

Spas: no troubles at t’ mill - The Times 01/07/06

Titanic Spa may not have all its chakras sorted but it does have big ambitions, says Jayne Dowle

Fancy an Indian, doc? - The Times 01/07/06

“Been away again then, doc?” Honestly, some days it’s as if my waiting room is packed with private eyes.

Inside story: keratoconus: vision for the future - The Times 01/07/06

Sheron Boyle meets the vet who became an eye surgeon after a corneal transplant

Her heart's on her green sleeve - The Times 01/07/06

Ali Hewson, aka Mrs Bono, tells Janice Turner that running an ethical fashion label isn’t the only way she keeps her feet on the ground

Learning the language of love - The Times 01/07/06

In the final extract from his new book, marital therapist Andrew G. Marshall shows how couples can save their relationship by improving the way they communicate

The sex with more stress - The Times 01/07/06

Should women suffer and be martyrs to their hormones? Just relax, says Vivienne Parry, our bodies know best

Brotherly love - The Times 01/07/06

Stories behind the news: male homosexuality is a normal human variation like height or IQ

Midwife centres risk up to 20 baby deaths a year, watchdog warns - The Telegraph 02/07/06

As many as 20 babies are dying every year because mothers choose to deliver their children in birth centres run by midwives rather than in hospital, an NHS watchdog has calculated.

Nish Joshi's Q & A - The Telegraph 02/07/06

I'm recovering from anorexia and want to put on weight. What's the best and healthiest way to do it? I'm vegetarian but I hate cheese.

Carbon trading leaves a nasty smell - The Telegraph 02/07/06

Companies have made millions selling excess permits - while hospitals and schools have to buy them, reports Robert Watts

Never have we seen immigration on this scale: we just can't cope - The Telegraph 02/07/06

'We recognise the positive contributions immigration makes to the country and the economy," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said last week. "If we don't have migration, we don't have the growth from the economy that we all benefit from."

Patients put at risk as foreign nurses cheat on English tests - The Telegraph 01/07/06

Foreign nurses are using falsely obtained English qualifications to come to Britain to work in the National Health Service, the nurses' regulatory body said yesterday.

Families worse off than five years ago - The Telegraph 01/07/06

The average family is 10 per cent worse off than it was five years ago, according to a new analysis of income and outgoings before and after tax.

Labour red tape hits free nursery places - The Telegraph 01/07/06

Nursery education is facing a crisis that could leave thousands of parents unable to find free places for their children after the summer, organisers said yesterday.

The chilling truth about ice cream - Daily Mail 02/07/06

When I was growing up, my dad’s cousin, struggling to make a living as a farmer after the introduction of milk quotas, decided to turn his hand to making ice cream.

Suncream claims 'have serious health implications' - Daily Mail 01/07/06

Popular sun creams - including the UK's best-selling brand - have been accused of putting health at risk by not offering the protection they claim.

Government issue heatwave warning - BBC Health News 02/07/06

The government has issued a heatwave warning amid forecasts suggesting temperatures will rise above 30C in various parts of England.

Babies need 'tummy time' to develop - BBC Health News 01/07/06

Each night little Isobel Nash is placed to sleep on her back.

Hewitt defends 'reorganised' NHS - BBC Health News 01/07/06

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has defended NHS services which have been hit by reorganisation, job losses and budget deficits.

Ambulance journeys 'unnecessary' - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Half of ambulance trips to hospital may be unnecessary as patients could be treated at the scene, a report says.

School shuts in 'E.coli outbreak' - BBC Health News 30/06/06

A school has been closed after a possible outbreak of the E.coli bug.

RCGP's Comment On The Chief Medical Officer Advice To GPs On Annual Flu Campaign, UK - Medical News Today 02/07/06

"We want to praise the work of GPs who last year delivered the highest ever flu vaccination rate of 75.3% in the over 65s. With this latest announcement GPs will need to have a good idea of how long we will be without full stocks of the flu vaccine. In the meantime, we would urge GPs to intensify their arrangements to deliver the vaccine they have over a shorter period. Ideally additional protection from flu should be offered to the at-risk groups before November when flu often begins to set in. We also support the CMO's recommendations on which at-risk groups to target with the vaccine first to avoid pressure on GP vaccination systems."

Chief Medical Officer Advice To GPs On Annual Flu Campaign - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Practical Solutions Of The ECTD - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Offers real insight into the strategies, the industry has employed to, firstly, implement an eCTD and, secondly how to achieve a successful submission. The regulators are on hand to provide clarification of the latest guidelines.

Industry Joins UK Government To Promote Sensible Drinking - Medical News Today 02/07/06

A new independent charitable Trust aimed at positively changing the UK's drinking culture and tackling alcohol-related harms was officially given the go-ahead today by Government Ministers Caroline Flint and Vernon Coaker, the alcohol industry and key stakeholders.

New Safeguards For The Most Vulnerable People - UK Government Publishes Proposals To Close The Bournewood Gap - Medical News Today 02/07/06

People who lack capacity will benefit from new safeguards under detailed proposals published today by health minister Rosie Winterton. The proposals are aimed at closing the 'Bournewood Gap', which arises when people who lack capacity to consent and need to receive care or treatment in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of liberty - such as some people with severe dementia or autism - these people have previously been "detained" under the common law, rather than under the Mental Health Act, and so do not have sufficient legal safeguards or protection.

General Practice In Scotland: Top Quality For Second Year Running - Medical News Today 01/07/06

New Quality and Outcomes data for general practice published on Thursday 29 June 2006 show the high standards of care delivered to patients by GPs, said doctors' leaders.

Anaesthetists Need Urgent Guidance On Patients Who Don't Want To Be Resuscitated - Medical News Today 01/07/06

UK anaesthetists could face accusations of euthanasia or assisted suicide if they follow Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) Orders during surgery, according to an editorial in the July issue of Anaesthesia.

Therapy Does Not Cure Sex Offenders, Study - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Although psychological therapy may reduce the rate at which sex offenders re-offend, it does not cure them, say researchers from the University of London and the University of Leicester. Even so, psychological therapy, in some cases, has managed to reduce re-offending rates by 40%.

International News

Climate change can wait. World health can't - The Observer 02/07/06

With $50bn, we could make the planet a better place but money spent on global warming would be wasted

We need to ensure quality of care does not suffer' - The Guardian 01/07/06

Jeevan Vasagar visited the Arua regional referral hospital, where MSF helps to care for 100-150 new admissions every month. Six months on, extra staff have been employed to provide HIV/Aids treatment for more than 2,500 people

Aids orphans: 'Nobody's child but everybody's children' - The Guardian 01/07/06

No sting in this tale - The Times 01/07/06

RADIOACTIVE scorpion venom might sound like it is straight out of a Spiderman plot, but the substance promises to offer a new therapy for brain cancers that currently have no cure.

Schizophrenia drug 'health risk' - BBC Health News 01/07/06

Patients who take the antipsychotic drug clozapine risk a group of health conditions called metabolic syndrome, warn researchers.

Decaf coffee cuts diabetes risk - BBC Health News 01/07/06

Drinking decaffeinated coffee is associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes, research suggests.

Juice 'can slow prostate cancer' - BBC Health News 01/07/06

Drinking a daily eight ounce glass of pomegranate juice can significantly slow the progress of prostate cancer, a study suggests.

Pomegranates may slow prostate cancer - The Telegraph 01/07/06

Pomegranate juice may be cancer weapon - Reuters 01/07/06

Could chilli peppers relieve pain? - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Could the humble chilli pepper hold the answer to arthritis pain?

Bird flu vaccine '10 years away' - BBC Health News 30/06/06

Avian flu experts meeting in Paris have been told that a viable vaccine against the human form of the disease could take 10 years to develop.

Job stress raises blood pressure - BBC Health News 30/06/06

White-collar workers should beware, say experts who have shown that chronic job stress can raise blood pressure.

SkyePharma Reacquires European Rights For DepoBupivacaine(TM) - Medical News Today 01/07/06

SkyePharma PLC (Nasdaq: SKYE; LSE: SKP) announces that it has completed negotiations with Mundipharma International Holdings Limited ("Mundipharma") the result of which is that SkyePharma will reacquire the rights for the marketing and distribution of DepoBupivacaine(TM) in Europe and other international markets excluding the USA, Canada and Japan. SkyePharma will also obtain rights to the clinical data from the Phase II trials of DepoBupivacaine(TM). This is expected to simplify the ongoing divestment process of SkyePharma's injectables unit.

Five-Year Study Of Morbidly Obese Finds Significant Benefits Of The LAP-BAND(R) Procedure Over Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass - Medical News Today 01/07/06

LAP-BAND(R) System is less invasive, less risky than laparoscopic gastric bypass, according to a five-year study comparing the two most common weight-loss surgery procedures for the seriously overweight presented at this year's American Society for Bariatric Surgery meeting by Emma Patterson, M.D., the senior investigator of the study and Director of Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, LLC (Portland, OR).

Generic Availability Of Zocor(R) And Zoloft(R) Will Create Significant Cost Savings For Consumers - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Two popular prescription drugs are about to become available as generics, reaping significant savings on prescription drug costs for consumers and employers who purchase health plans.

Patient's Fear Leads Him To Technology - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Curtis Fell of Fort Worth, a savvy IT Consultant and a technology buff, has spent his career troubleshooting in the high-tech world of Internet technology and thought he was well aware of all the newest technology that was available to consumers. But when his recent cardiac catheterization failed and his doctor told he would require open-heart surgery to repair a 95% blockage, he took a leap of faith and scoured the Internet in hopes to finding another option for himself.

First Human Trial Of Antibacterial Contact Lens - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Biotechnology company Biosignal Ltd and the Institute for Eye Research have received ethics approval for the first human clinical trial of an antibacterial extended-wear contact lens. The ASX-listed company commercialises a novel anti-bacterial technology identified by UNSW researchers at the Centre for Marine Biofouling and Bioinnovation.

Progress Being Made In Exploring Potential Use Of Stem Cells To Treat Heart Disease - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Scientists are making headway in exploring the potential future use of stem cells to treat heart disease, according to a review article in the current issue of Nature (June 29, 2006).

Nearly Half Of Elementary School Teachers Admit To Bullying - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Nearly half of elementary school teachers surveyed about bullying in schools, admitted to bullying students, according to a study in the May issue of The International Journal of Social Psychiatry.

Diabetes Type 2 Ages You By 15 Years - Medical News Today 01/07/06

If you develop diabetes type 2 you are likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems 15 years earlier than somebody who does not have diabetes type 2, according to scientists from the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Canada.

FDA Approves Lucentis For Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Medical News Today 01/07/06

The FDA has approved Lucentis (ranibizumab) for the treatment of neovascular wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The once-a-month injection maintains the vision of over 90% of people with this kind of AMD. Lucentis is a new molecular entity. This means its active ingredient has been approved for the first time in the USA.

Academy Recognizes The Arrival Of New Drug To Fight AMD - Medical News Today 01/07/06

New Genentech eye drug approved - Reuters 01/07/06

Hopkins Researchers Develop New Quick Tool To Sort Out Insect Bites In Children - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Children afflicted with insect-bite rashes are often misdiagnosed or referred for extensive and costly tests, but a new, easy-to-remember set of guidelines developed at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center should help.

Cipla Receives Tentative FDA Approval To Produce Oral Form Of Generic Antiretroviral Lamivudine For PEPFAR - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Indian drugmaker Cipla has received tentative FDA approval to produce an oral version of the antiretroviral drug lamivudine, a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Epivir, under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, India's Hindu reports (Hindu, 6/27).

US clears 3-drug AIDS pill for global relief plan - Reuters 30/06/06

Novel Antibiotic To Have Severe Liver Failure Warning - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Ketek (telithromycin) was approved by the FDA in 1994 for respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, community-acquired infections and bronchitis. There have been reports, since its approval, of patients who took the drug having severe liver problems - several died. The drug will now have a warning of liver failure and severe injury.

PRI's 'The World' Examines HIV Epidemic In Southern Sudan After Two-Decade Civil War - Medical News Today 30/06/06

"The World" -- a production of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston -- on Monday examined how "peace is spreading" HIV in southern Sudan, which recently emerged from more than two decades of civil war (Baba, "The World," PRI, 6/26).

Bird Flu More Deadly For Younger People - Medical News Today 30/06/06

The present H5N1 bird flu virus strain seems to be more deadly for younger people, as was the case with the flu pandemic in 1918, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The average death rate for infected people is 56%, while for 10-19 year-olds it is 73%.

Protein Tied To Usher Syndrome May Be Hearing's 'Missing Link' - Medical News Today 30/06/06

A protein associated with a disorder that causes deafness and blindness in people may be a key to unraveling one of the foremost mysteries of how we hear, says a study in the June 28 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Dietary Supplements Do Not Reverse The Chemistry Of Emotional Stress - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Eating extra amounts of certain fats linked to numerous health benefits does not reverse the underlying metabolic changes that occur in emotional stress, an international group of researchers report. Their study is scheduled for the July 7 issue of the ACS Journal of Proteome Research.

Number Of HIV-Positive IDUs In Sub-Saharan Africa Increasing, Researchers Say - Medical News Today 30/06/06

The number of HIV-positive injection drug users in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing, researchers said at the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief meeting earlier this month in Durban, South Africa, PlusNews reports.

Toward An Early Diagnostic Test For Ovarian Cancer - Medical News Today 30/06/06

In an advance toward eventual development of a much-needed early diagnostic test for ovarian cancer, scientists have identified at least 15 biomarkers for the disease that are present in cancer patients but absent in healthy individuals. Carlito B. Lebrilla and colleagues at the University of California at Davis describe the discovery in a report scheduled for the July 7 issue of the ACS Journal of Proteome Research.

New Cardiac MRI Pinpoints Closed Arteries Without Surgery - Medical News Today 30/06/06

A new cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique can noninvasively demonstrate blockage of the coronary arteries with high diagnostic accuracy, according to a study featured in the July issue of Radiology.

Number Of Couples In Which Only One Person Is HIV-Positive Increases In Uganda, Survey Finds - Medical News Today 30/06/06

The number of couples in which only one person is HIV-positive -- a situation known as serodiscordance -- is increasing in Uganda, according to a survey released last week, Uganda's Monitor reports.

New Tool Tracks Brain Development In Babies - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Researchers have used a new technique to monitor brain development in infants and detect disturbances in white matter, according to a study in the July issue of Radiology.

New Genes Implicated In Rheumatoid Arthritis - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Researchers continue to search for genetic clues into rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory joint disease. While its specific cause is not yet known, RA has been linked to an inherited susceptibility. Interestingly, despite its strong genetic component, RA's occurrence among siblings seems to be random.

Memory Loss Affects More Of The Brain Than Previously Thought - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Memory loss associated with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be linked to altered activity in several areas of the brain, according to a study in the July issue of Radiology.

New Insights Into The Impact Of Pregnancy On Inflammatory Arthritis - Medical News Today 30/06/06

During pregnancy, women with inflammatory arthritis usually experience disease improvement or even remission, while a disease flare regularly occurs within 3 to 4 months after delivery. A study featured in the July 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism

NIH Official Says Legislation Not Needed For Agency To Research Means Of Deriving Embryonic Stem Cells Without Destroying Embryos - Medical News Today 30/06/06

Legislation is not needed to give NIH the authority to research means of creating embryonic stem cells without destroying human embryos, and such research proposals would undergo the same review process regardless of if a bill (S 2754) is passed, NIH Stem Cell Task Force Chair James Battey said on Tuesday at a Senate Labor-HHS-Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 6/27).

CORRECTION: Meth addicts reduce drug use with new treatment - Reuters 30/06/06

Clarifies the second paragraph by replacing "...but only 28% were using methamphetamines 84 days following the first day of treatment..." with "... but they used the drug on just 28% of the 84 days following the first day of treatment..."

US to subsidize state purchases of Tamiflu - Reuters 30/06/06

The U.S. government said on Friday it will spend about $149 million under a two-year contract with Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG to provide federally subsidized Tamiflu tablets to all 50 states, so they can begin stockpiling the drug as a potential treatment for any pandemic influenza outbreak.

Vaccine plan for poor could survive G8 setback - Reuters 30/06/06

A plan to develop a vaccine for poor countries against the virus that causes pneumonia and meningitis could still go forward even if G8 leaders meeting in two weeks fail to agree on funding, officials said on Friday.

Low blood sugar at night still a diabetes problem - Reuters 30/06/06

For people with type 1 diabetes who aim to keep their blood sugar levels under tight control, nighttime can bring the problem of sugar levels dropping too low -- which can lead to mental confusion or even seizures. None of the available remedies, however, are ideal, researchers say.

EU ban on lead, mercury in electronics enters force - Reuters 30/06/06

Stringent new rules banning metals such as lead and mercury from electronic products sold in the 25-nation European Union come into force on Saturday in a move the EU says is being watched by China and other nations.

People who smoke "lights" less likely to quit - Reuters 30/06/06

The misconception that "light" cigarettes are safer than regular brands may be preventing some smokers from quitting altogether, a new study suggests.

Prostatic Irradiation Doesn't Lead To Any Appreciable Increase In Rectal Cancer Risk - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Men who receive radiation therapy for prostate cancer are not at any appreciable increased risk of developing rectal cancer compared to those not given radiation therapy, according to a new study published in the July 1, 2006, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Parameters Associated With Patient Outcomes In Lymph Node Positive Prostate Cancer - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Dr. Hofer and colleagues report in the June issue of Urology that lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and the nuclear grade of the primary prostate tumor are independent predictors of PSA recurrence in men with lymph node positive CaP.

Phase I Trial Of Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA9) Peptide Vaccine In Cytokine Refractory Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

CA9 is a tumor associated antigen that is expressed on the majority of renal cell carcinomas (RCC's) as well as other tumors. As a consequence of this finding, several therapeutic strategies have been developed that target CA9, including monoclonal antibody therapy, genetically engineered autologous T cells, and others. Here, Uemura and colleagues report on a vaccine strategy targeting CA9 through the use of CA9 peptides in combination with Freund's adjuvant in cytokine refractory RCC out of Japan.

FDA Gives Rapid Approval For A New Treatment For A Rare Type Of Leukemia - Medical News Today 02/07/06

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for Sprycel (dasatinib), a new oral treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a rare cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of white blood cells. CML affects about 4,600 people annually in the United States. In addition, the FDA gave regular approval to Sprycel for use in the treatment of adults who have Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL), a more serious form of leukemia. Both approvals are for patients who have experienced resistance or intolerance to prior therapy.

Attacking Cancer's Sweet Tooth Is Effective Strategy Against Tumors - Medical News Today 02/07/06

An ancient avenue for producing cellular energy, the glycolytic pathway, could provide a surprisingly rich target for anti-cancer therapies. A team of Harvard Medical School (HMS) researchers knocked down one of the pathway's enzymes, LDHA, in a variety of fast-growing breast cancer cells, effectively shutting down glycolysis, and implanted the cells in mice.

Speeding Discovery Of The 'human Cancer Genome' - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Two gene discoveries announced in separate reports in the June 30, 2006 issue of Cell highlight one way to speed through the human genome in search of those genes most important for spawning cancer. Both groups say that a critical element in the enterprise to efficiently characterize the "human cancer genome" --a comprehensive collection of the genetic alterations responsible for major cancers--is the strategic comparison of human tumors with those of mice.

International Association For Dental Research Presents Awards & Fellowships - Medical News Today 02/07/06

As part of the Opening Ceremonies of its 84th General Session & Exhibition, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, the International Association for Dental Researchl presented numerous prestigious awards and fellowships.

Landmark STAR*D Depression Study Offers ‘Sobering' Third-Round Results - Medical News Today 02/07/06

New results of the nation's largest depression study show that patients who have already failed on two prior antidepressants and then switch to a different class of antidepressants have only a minimal chance at remission by making the switch. The finding is part of the third wave of reports from the “Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression” (STAR*D) study and is being released in the July 2006 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

European Medicines Agency - Committee For Medicinal Products For Human Use 26-28 June 2006, CHMP June 2006 Plenary - Medical News Today 02/07/06

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion on initial marketing authorisation for Exjade (deferasirox), from Novartis Europharm Ltd. Exjade is indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions. EMEA review began on 18 May 2005 with an active review time of 197 days.

Relationship Between Borderline Personality Disorder And Bipolar Disorder, Long-Term Study

Results from a long-term study indicate that borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder do not commonly coexist, a finding which has important implications for treatment. The findings are reported in the July 2006 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Different Stem Cell Treatments Both Produce Results For Two Similar Spinal Cord Injury Patients In China - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced the successful treatment of two similar spinal cord injury patients using two different procedures that involved umbilical cord stem cells.

Study Examines The Use Of A Novel Suprapubic Catheter In Suprapubic Prostatectomy - Medical News Today 02/07/06

It is well known that in addition to urethral catheter associated discomfort, there is an increased risk of ascending urethral infection, inflammation and stricture formation with urethral catheters. Despite the emergence of a multitude of minimally invasive treatments for BPH, the traditional TURP or suprapubic prostatectomy is still commonly performed. Open prostatectomy offers the advantage of a lower re-treatment rate and more complete removal of the prostate adenoma under direct vision, while it avoids the risk of TUR syndrome.

Intermittent Androgen Deprivation In Biochemical Recurrence Of Prostate Cancer After Radiotherapy - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) is commonly used in the treatment of CaP, which theoretically may delay the development of hormone resistance. Dr. Bruchovsky and associates report the outcomes of a Phase II trial using IAD in patients with biochemical recurrence following radiotherapy in the epub version of Cancer.

UC Berkeley Study Finds That Girls With ADHD Continue To Struggle Academically And Socially In Adolescence - Medical News Today 02/07/06

As they enter adolescence, girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show fewer symptoms of hyperactivity. But they continue to lag behind their peers academically and have a greater proclivity for other behavioral and emotional disorders as well as for substance abuse, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley.

Another Stem Cell First For University Of Toronto And Canada - Medical News Today 02/07/06

Umbilical cord tissue proves to be a rich source of stem cells with multi-potential use in tissue repair - the new wave in stem cell banking.

Vienna: The Human Genome On 4 X 6 Cm - Symposium On Molecular Diagnostics - Medical News Today 02/07/06

The importance of molecular diagnostics for cancer treatment is set to increase significantly in coming years, according to a symposium held yesterday in Vienna. The reason for organising the symposium was the acquisition of a cutting-edge microarray analyser as part of the EU OVCAD (Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis) project. The device provides what is currently the most sensitive technology for analysing the activity of all human genes and therefore enables the type and progress of cancers to be determined with previously unattainable levels of accuracy.

Research Reinforces Findings That Chinese Exercises Benefit Older Adults - Medical News Today 01/07/06

New work by researchers at the University of Illinois lends strength to previous research documenting the health benefits of Qigong and Taiji among older adults who practice these ancient Chinese martial-arts forms.

Chocolate, Wine, Spicy Foods May Be OK For Heartburn, Stanford Study Finds - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Patients have been known to hug Lauren Gerson, MD, so overjoyed are they at hearing her words. What does she say to them? Go ahead and eat chocolate. Indulge your passion for spicy cuisine. Drink red wine. Enjoy coffee when you want it, have that orange juice with breakfast and, what the heck, eat a grapefruit, too.

Oral Health Of Children And Adolescents Still Reflects Disparities - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Researchers from eight countries reported today that, while some progress has been made in improving the oral health of children and adolescents, much remains to be done.

A Probable Cause For Parkinson's? - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease and other brain disorders are among a growing list of maladies attributed to oxidative stress, the cell damage caused during metabolism when the oxygen in the body assumes ever more chemically reactive forms.

Mayo Clinic Pioneers New Method Of Jaw Reconstruction For Oral Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Mayo Clinic ear, nose and throat surgeons have developed a promising new process for mandible (lower jaw) reconstruction following removal of oral cancer. Details will be presented June 28 at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, http://www.ifhnos2006.cz/

Study Reveals High Rate Of Diabetes In Rural India - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Populations in rural India may be set for an epidemic of diabetes according to new research conducted by The George Institute for International Health and published today in Diabetes Care. In a large-scale survey of rural India, 13% of adults aged 30 or above were found to have diabetes in a developing area of Andhra Pradesh with a further 16% exhibiting features of pre-diabetes.

Perth Researchers To Trial Bird Flu Vaccine - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Perth researchers have begun a trial to test the effectiveness of a new vaccine to protect against the potentially deadly bird flu.

Avoiding House Dust Mites And Changing Diet Proves Ineffective - Medical News Today 01/07/06

New research shows avoiding house dust mite allergens from birth does not prevent the onset of asthma, eczema or atopy in high-risk children.

A Candidate Gene For Familial Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Identified - Medical News Today 01/07/06

ELMOD2-gene is a prime candidate gene for familial idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, suggests the recent study published by the researchers at the University and University Hospital of Helsinki, Finland.

A Boost For European Life Sciences As ESF Launch EuroBioFund - Medical News Today 01/07/06

The European Science Foundation will today launch a new initiative to help promote and coordinate direct interaction among European life sciences researchers and funders: EuroBioFund.

REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder Is An Early Marker Of Neurodegenerative Diseases - Medical News Today 01/07/06

The front page of the July 2006 issue of The Lancet Neurology, the journal with the highest international impact, contains a work that shows the relationship between disorders during REM sleep and future neurodegenerative pathologies.

Telemedicine Initiative For Sub-Saharan Africa - Medical News Today 01/07/06

The first meeting of the Telemedicine Task Force for sub-Saharan Africa was held in Brussels on 23 June 2006.

Finding Of A New Molecular Marker Of Resistance To Chemotherapy In Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 01/07/06

A collaborative study between the Hospital Clinic and the Hospital del Mar de Barcelona permits to establish a predictive factor in the resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer and to establish possible therapeutic targets for the improvement of this treatment.

Violence From Male Partners Associated With Serious Health Threats To Pregnant Women And Newborns - Medical News Today 01/07/06

In the first national study of the effects of intimate partner violence on the health of women during pregnancy and the health of newborn children, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) demonstrated that violence from male partners, both in the year prior to and during a woman's pregnancy, increases her risk of serious health complications during pregnancy.

Carnegie Mellon Researchers Discover New Cell Properties - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Carnegie Mellon University researchers Kris Noel Dahl and Mohammad F. Islam have made a new breakthrough for children suffering from an extremely rare disease that accelerates the aging process by about seven times the normal rate.

New Clues For Treatment Of Liver Cancer - Medical News Today 01/07/06

By generating tumors in laboratory mice that mimic human liver cancer and by comparing the DNA of mouse and human tumors, researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified two genes that are likely to play a role in the third leading cause of human cancer deaths.

Researchers Find Molecular 'brake' to cell death - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have significantly refined the scientific understanding of how a cell begins the process of self-destruction - an advance they say may help in the design of more targeted cancer therapies.

Studies Evaluating Health Effects Of Dental Amalgam Fillings In Children Confirm Safety - Medical News Today 01/07/06

For the first time at a major international meeting, scientists are reporting the results of the first-ever randomized clinical trials to evaluate the safety of placing amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, in the teeth of children. The findings were presented during the 84th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

New Fruit Fly Protein Illuminates Circadian Response To Light - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a new protein required for the circadian response to light in fruit flies. The discovery of this protein - named JET - brings investigators one step closer to understanding the process by which the body's internal clock synchronizes to light. Understanding how light affects circadian (24-hour) rhythms will likely open doors to future treatments of jetlag.

Cranberries Contain Possible Anti-caries/anti-plaque Agents - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Scientists have discovered that the humble cranberry harbors several anti-oxidants (flavonoids) that show the ability to counteract the damaging effects of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which causes dental caries (tooth decay).

Link Between Income And Happiness Is Mainly An Illusion - Medical News Today 01/07/06

While most people believe that having more income would make them happier, Princeton University researchers have found that the link is greatly exaggerated and mostly an illusion.

Oral Conditions, Dental Caries Worldwide- Medical News Today 01/07/06

Even with dramatic advances in the armamentarium for fighting oral and dental diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal (gum) disease, these conditions remain prevalent in many parts of the world, without regard for geopolitical boundaries.

NIAID Announces Leadership For Newly Restructured HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks- Medical News Today 01/07/06

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) today announced the clinical investigators and institutions that will lead NIAID's newly restructured HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks in the search for safe and effective treatments and prevention strategies, including HIV vaccines. NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports the world's largest portfolio of clinical HIV/AIDS research.

Drivers On Cell Phones Are As Bad As Drunks- Medical News Today 01/07/06

Three years after the preliminary results first were presented at a scientific meeting and drew wide attention, University of Utah psychologists have published a study showing that motorists who talk on handheld or hands-free cellular phones are as impaired as drunken drivers.

Dental Stem Cells Have Been Characterized For Tooth Tissue Engineering- Medical News Today 01/07/06

Today, during the 84th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, a team from The Forsyth Institute (Boston, MA, USA) will report that their research has demonstrated that mixed populations of cultured post-natal tooth bud cells can be used to generate bioengineered dental tissues.

Cancer-causing Protein May Heal Damaged Spinal Cord And Brain Cells- Medical News Today 01/07/06

Cancer researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have found that a protein known for driving the growth of cancer also plays a surprising role in restoring the ability of neurons to regenerate, making it an important target for addressing spinal cord damage or neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.

New Scoring System Predicts Gastric Bypass Surgery Risk- Medical News Today 01/07/06

Duke University Medical Center surgeons have developed a simple scoring system based on five patient characteristics that can predict which candidates for gastric bypass surgery would be at highest risk for dying.

Brittle Prions Are More Infectious - Medical News Today 01/07/06

Brittleness is often seen as a sign of fragility. But in the case of infectious proteins called prions, brittleness makes for a tougher, more menacing pathogen. Howard Hughes Medical Institute researcher have discovered that brittle prion particles break more readily into new "seeds," which spread infection much more quickly.

Study shows antihistamine could fight malaria - Reuters 02/07/06

An allergy drug pulled off the market in 1999 could work to treat malaria, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.

Fruit research yields way to curb cancer - Reuters 02/07/06

Scientists at an Israeli university have found a promising new way to stop the growth and spread of cancer cells while carrying out research to boost the size of peaches and nectarines, the university said on Sunday.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Sadness as doctors vote against assisted suicide - Daily Post 30/06/06

TERMINALLY-ILL people from Merseyside and Cheshire last night said they were "saddened and disappointed" after doctors voted against legalising assisted suicide in Britain.

MPs divided over the smacking of children - Liverpool Echo 30/06/06

MERSEYSIDE MPs are divided over new moves to outlaw the smacking of children.

Replacement ambulance base opened - Chester Chronicle 30/06/06

AN ambulance base has been officially opened in the rural hinterland of Chester.

Health targets to cut costs - Cheshire Chronicle 30/06/06

A WATCHDOG says interference by NHS bureaucrats in the way patients are treated could prove unsafe.

Alcohol ban for town centre? - Chester Chronicle 30/06/06

COUNCILLORS have yet to reach a decision on the prospect of introducing an alcohol ban in Neston town centre.

Give your blood and save lives - Southport Visiter 30/06/06

THE National Blood Service is appealing to people in Southport to help boost blood stocks as summer approaches.

Regulars make piles of pennies count for Sally - Southport Visiter 30/06/06

STAFF and locals at a High Park pub have been raiding their penny jar to help a young woman with a rare, debilitating illness.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Health rumour busters - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 30/06/06

HEALTH staff are being urged to put "potentially damaging" gossip to hospital bosses to "avoid the rumour mill going into overdrive."

Monday, July 03, 2006